Cornpicker roll



E. V. COLLINS CORNPICKER ROLL Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV.15, 1950 1 N v/v roe ar 1/ Collins E. V. COLLINS CORNPICKER ROLL Oct.27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1950 IN vnv 702 at yCol/insPatented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORNPICKER ROLL EdgarV. Collins, Ames, Iowa Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,403

9 Claims.

- This invention relates generally to corn harvesting machines and inparticular to rolls in a cornpicking machine adapted to continuouslygather the stalks, and to huskand pick cars from the stalks, as thestalks travel axially in succession between the rolls.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved cornharvestingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of cornpickerrolls having sections of different diameters and with the sections beingoperated at different speeds and relatively arranged in the rolls sothat standing stalks passing between the rolls are continuously huskedand picked with the husks remaining on the standing stalks.

A further object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rolls of arelatively small diameter and rotated at relatively high speeds whichare capable of picking corn cars from their associated husks and stalkswithout any substantial grabbing, shelling or mutilation of the buttends of the ears.

Still another object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rollscapable of efiiciently picking small ears or nubbins.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rollscapable of advancing standing stalks therebetween in succession, andduring such advance to pick ears from the stalks, free of any husks, soas to leave the stalks with the husks thereon remaining in the field.

A further object of this invention is to provide a two-sectioncornpicker roll, in which the sections are of different diametersindependently supported for rotation at their adjacent ends, such thatone side portion of the roll is in linear continuity over the fulllengthof the roll.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the cornpicker rolls of this inventionillustrated in assembly relation with a fragmentary showing of acornpicker machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view. of a cornpicker roll ofthis invention taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken alongthe line -33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view as seen on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the roll assembly shown in Fig. 1;and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line '6-6 inFig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the rolls ll] of this invention areillustrated in Fig. 1 in assembly relation with a cornpicker machine,designated generally at H, and including a frame structure I2 whichmovably carries usual stalk gathering chains l3 in operative associationwith gathering snouts M. An elevator for conveying picked corn to awagon is indicated at Hi. The rolls l6 are arranged longitudinally ofthe machine II in upwardly and rearwardly inclined positions, asbestappears in Fig. 5. Since the rolls I0 are of a like constructiononly one thereof will be referred to in detail in the followingdescription.

A roll l0 (Fig. 1) is comprised of two sections [1 and I8, with thefront or gathering section I! being of a greater diameter than the rearor picking and husking section It. The roll H! is rotatably supported inthe machine II by the provision of a front bearing l9 secured to amember 2| of the frame structure I12 and assembled in a well-knownmanner with. the front section I! at a position spaced rearwardly fromits front end 22.. A bearing member 23 on a frame member 24 of the framestructure [2 supports the roll ID at the rear end 26 of a rear sectionI8.

The front section I! of a roll in (Figs. 2 and 3) is of a hollowcylindrical construction open at its rear end 21 and with its front end'22 being closed and of a tapered construction. The sections l1 and 18of a roll l6 are rotatably supported at their junction by a combinationbearing and gear reduction unit, designated generally as 28, and whichincludes abearing block 29 received within the rear end 2'! of the frontsection ll so as to be within the longitudinal or axial confines of thesection IT. The bearing block is formed at its front end 3| with abearing support 32, coaxial with the front section l1. Mounted on thebearing support 32 is a roller bearing assembly 33 about which the rearend 21 of the front section I! is rotatably supported.

Transversely offset from the bearing support 32, and formed in the rearend 34 of the bearing block 29 is a cylindrical cavity 3t, open to oneside of the bearing block 29, for receiving a selfaligning bearingassembly 3'1, which is in coaxial alignment with the roll rear sectionIS. The rear section l8 has its front end 38 of a reduced diameter so asto constitute a shaft portion for insertion Within the self-aligningbearing 37 to a position such that the shoulder 39 formed at the rearend of the shaft portion 38 is closely adjacent to the rear end faces 4!and 42 of the front section I! and bearing block 29, respectively.

It is seen, therefore, that the front section H is rotatably supportedat the bearings l9 and 33 for rotation independently of the rear sectionl8 which is rotatably supported at the bearings 23 and 31. The bearingblock 29 is retained stationary by a bracket member 43 secured to theframe member 2! and to the rear end 34 of the bearing block by bolts 44.As best appears in Fig. 1, the bracket 43 is projected laterally from afront section ll in a direction away from the support of the rearsection IE on the bearing block 29.

The rear end 27 of a front section I! terminates in an internal gear "46which isin meshed engagement with a pinion gear 47 mounted on the shaftportion 38 so as to be within the front section I1. is cut away at 48 soas to be in a clearance-relation with the rear section l8. It is seen,therefore, that the gear assembly, comprisingtheinternal gear 46 and thepinion gear- 4 1,:is enclosed within the front section I! bythebracket43 and shoulder 39 of the rear section l8.

With reference to Fig. 2 it is seen that the selfaligning bearing 37 isoffset transversely :from the'bearing support 3'2 such that the sideportions 49 and 5|, of the sections IS and I1, respectively, locatedopposite the side 58 f thesectionl'l, from which the niounting'bracket43 ,projects,-are in substantial linear alignment axially of -th'e rollit. Further, by virtue ofthe-location of-the' combination unit 28 Withinthe front section H and. the close adjacenceof the rear end' face 4 l ofthe front section ii to the shoulder 3-9, it i'sseen that-the sidepcrtions49 andl ares ubstantially continuous over the full'length'of-theroll I0.

In use, the rollslfi are arrangedlongitudinaily of thepicker machine Hin a transversely spaced relation (Fig. '1) such that=the continuousside portion of a roll; comprisedof theeportions fl and 5! of thesections lt and iigrespectively, are-opposite each-other so-astoconstitutethe side or defining walls of the -space52 between the rollsHi. As a result, the space 52 is of: a substantially constant width overthe full length of' th'e rolls It. The rear ends =25'of thesections lBcarry meshed gear-s53; and witha rear shaftcxtension 54' on one of therolls !il being-suitablyconnected with a source'of power (not shown)such as the power takeofi of a tractor. ThHShafteXfiGHEiOh 54 isrotated'in 'a direction such that the'rolls are reverselyrotatedinwardly-toward each other as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6.

In operation, and referring to Fig. has the machine is advanced along a'corn row thecorn stalks, indicated at'et; enter the rolls b'etweennthetapered sections 22' and are thenzadvanced' rearwardly ofthefrontsections H by reversed :spiral flights 5'! fo'rrned'onthesectio'ns t'l. Theiperipheral surface of each rear section i8 I(Figs. :2and 4) is formed with what might be termed hobs 58 arranged incircumferential rows spaced axially of a rear sectionan'd with therowsbeing inparallel plan'es inclined relative to the axis of a'rea'rsection. Each hob '58is ofasubstantially pyramid shape, so that as astalk passes within the space 152 between the rear sections t8 itispierced rather than crushed by the action-'ofthe hobs. It iscontemplated that the hobs-stand about one-eighth of'an inchvhighandthat the hobs be about quarter of aninch apart1at-the space 52.

In one embodiment of 'thei'nvention therea'r sections it are aboutoneand'three quarters inches in diameter and rotatedat aspeed of about1030 M. In 'this embodiment the front sections I! are about three inchesindiameter and rotated at a speed of about "350 R. P. M. thestalks 5Bpas 'betweenthe rear sections it any grabbing actio'non thebutt 'e'n'dsofthe ears of corn is substantially eliminated by the hob formation ofthe peripheralsurfaces of the sections [8. Further, due tothe'relativ'ely small diameter of the rear sections lBand their rotationat a relatively high rate of speed, the ears are repelled orrejectedfrom enteringthe sections l8 instead of being drawn therebetween.

The bracket 43, as shown in Fig. 6,

As a result of this action of the roll sections l8 the-machine iscapable ofe'fliciently. picking small ears of'corn, without crushingthem, and of picking large ears of corn without mutilating or destroyingthe butt ends of such large ears.

:In-this picking action, the ears are picked from the stalks free of anyhusks. Stated otherwise,

the -hus'lis'*are removed from the ears, and the cars from thestalkssothat the rear sections l8 function as combination picking and huskingrolls. The picked ears are then directed to the wagon elevator it, whilethe husks pass downwardly between the rear sections I8 secured onthestandingstalks.

In thetravel of the stalks between the rear sections [:8 it has beenfoundthatthe upper ends of the stalks tend to accumulate 'or becomebunched together at the front orclower 'endsof the rearsections 18, Byvirtue'of this collecting tendency the pickingaction of the sections 18is confined somewhat to their lower ends. Since theipicked ears wouldalso fall'alongthe lower ends'of'theroll sections 18, they relativelyinterfere withtheir freepassage into the wagon-elevator i6.

To =overcome this accumulation of 'the stalks and cars at the lower ends.of the sections ii! there is provided a feeding auger-Bl Figs. 1, 5 andfi) :located in a parallel-spaced relation with and abovethe rollslabia-position betweenthe rolls and the wagon e1eva'tor l6. Intheembodiment sof 'the invention :above referred to the auger 6| has adiameter of "about ten inches. The=auger-6 l is rotatably: supportedinthe: frame members 24 and 62 of the frame structure 12 and: has a:shaft extension 63 at: its: rear endi for carrying: a'sprocket gear 54.The.=gear-:64 is connected through a sprocket chain :56 with :a sprocketgearfil mounted on-the'shaft extension 54'on one oftheroll-silfl. -Asthe'stalks 56 (Fig. 5) ,pass 'betweenithe rearvsections (8 :their upperends 8! are-en aged by the spiral 'fiightstanoi' the auger =6] andadvanced in a spaced relation upwardly orrea rwardly ofth-eroll-sections [-8,

For directing the picked-'earsitowardthe-wagon conveyer l6, "and theupper stalk ends 2:81 .into the auger 6| it is contemplatedthat therolls H! be arranged in-arplane which isinclinedupwardly toward theauger :shaft 69 as best appearsl-in Fig.6. 'In'the -embodiment-of theinvention referred to abovethis angle of=inclination is=a1ooutttfifteendegrees relativetto' a vertical planezp'assing betweenthe moi-ls H1. Theangle of inclination is adjustable'by.thet'prov-ision-of arcuate slots"H formedsin the brackets 43 -for receiving-the bolts 44.

:From 1 the above description 1 it is seen that :the invention providesa pair of corn picker :rol'ls each of whichisxcomprise'dof'a'front:'gathering section an'd a :rear 1 husking and.pickingvsection, and with the sections in a roll beingofdifferentdiameters and "operated "at 'di'fierent espeeds iof rotation. The rollsare capable 'of .gathering stalks i in a' corn! row,=and-' oni-travel ofthe cornpicking machine advance thezstalksin-succes sion therebetween tocontinuously pick and'husk the ears, leaving the husks remaining-on thestanding stalks. By-virtue of the -'construction of the roll sectionsl8, -.'and ltheir rotation at relatively high speeds both small andiarge earS are eniciently picked with a minimum shelling Of COIn.

-"Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof it is to be understood:that it is'not -to besolimited since changes can be made therein which are Within the fullintended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a front stalkgathering section, and a rear picking and husking section, with saidrear section being of a reduced diameter relative to said front section,bearing means at the junction of said two sections for rotatablysupporting the rear end of said front section, other bearing means atsaid junction for rotatably supporting the front end of said rearsection at a position such that one of the corresponding side portionsof said sections is in substantial linear alignment axially of saidroll, and means at said junction connecting said sections for concurrentrotation at different rotational speeds.

2. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-seetion roll having a front stalkgathering section and a rear picking and husking section, with said rearsection being of a reduced diameter relative to said front section, andmeans rotatably supporting said sections at the adjacent ends thereoffor independent rotation, with said adjacent ends being offsettransversely of the roll at said supporting means such that one sideportion of said roll is substantially continuous over the full length ofthe roll.

3. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a firstsection of a reduced diameter relative to a second section, means forrotatably supporting the adjacent ends of said two sections including abearing member positioned within the adjacent end of said second sectionand having a pair of bearing portions, with the adjacent end of saidsecond section being mounted about one of said bearing portions, and theadjacent end of the first section being received within the other ofsaid bearing portions, with said bearing portions being offsettransversely of said bearing member such that a side portion of saidroll is in linear alignment over the full length of the roll.

4. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a firstsection of a reduced diameter relative to the second section thereof,with the adjacent end of said second section at the junction of said twosections being hollow, a

combination bearing and gear reduction unit I positioned within thehollow end of said second section having a, mounting member locatedoutwardly from said hollow adjacent end and projected laterally to oneside of said roll, a first bearing portion on said bearing unit forrotatably v,

supporting the hollow adjacent end of said second section, a, secondbearing portion on said unit, with the adjacent end of said firstsection being inserted within said second bearing portion so that theadjacent ends of said two sections are in a longitudinally overlappedrelation, a pinion gear on the adjacent end of said first sectionlocated within the hollow adjacent end of said second section, aninternal gear on said hollow adjacent end in meshed engagement with saidpinion gear, with said bearing portions being relatively arranged suchthat the side of said roll, substantially opposite from said one sidethereof, in is linear continuity over the full length of the roll.

5. A two-section roll for a corn harvesting machine including a frontstalk gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, withsaid rear section being of a reduced diameter relative to said frontsection, and a combination bearing 75 and speed reduction unit at thejunction of said two sections located within the dimensional confines ofsaid front section for independently rotatably supporting the adjacentends of said two sections for rotation at varying speeds, with saidadjacent ends being transversely spaced within said combination unitsuch that peripheral portions of said two sections at one side of theroll are in linear alignment axially of the roll.

6. A corn harvesting machine having a pair of transversely spacedupwardly and rearwardly inclined sectional rolls, with each of saidrolls having a front stalk gathering section and a rear husking andpicking section, and with said rear sections being of a reduced diameterrelative to said front sections, means rotatably supporting saidsections for relative rotation such that side portions of acorresponding front and rear section at said space are in linear alinment axially of a corresponding roll, means for rotating said rearsections at a greater rotational speed than said front sections, and astalk feeding mechanism mounted above said rear sections including aspiral member engageable With the upper ends of stalks passing betweensaid rear sections to rearwardly advance said stalk upper ends.

7. In a corn harvesting machine, a two section roll having a frontstalk-gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, withsaid front section being of an enlarged diameter relative to said rearsection, bearing means at the adjacent ends of said front and rearsections for supporting said sections for relative rotation, and meanson said roll providing for a concurrent rotation of said sections atdifferent rotational speeds.

8. In a corn harvesting machine, :a section alized roll having a frontstalk-gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, withsaid front section being of an enlarged diameter relative to said rearsection, means on said roll for supporting said front and rear sectionsfor relative rotation, and means on said roll providing for a concurrentrotation of said sections at different rotational speeds.

9. In a corn harvesting machine, a pair of transversely spacedsubstantially parallel rolls, with each roll having a front section anda rear section, with a rear section being of a reduced diameter relativeto a corresponding front section, and means supporting correspondingfront and rear sections in a roll for relative rotation, with a rearsection having the axis thereof transversely offset relative to the axisof a corresponding front section such that a side portion of a roll isin linear alignment over the full length of the roll whereby when saidside portions of said rolls are disposed opposite each other the spacebetween said rolls is of a substantially constant width over thecomplete length of the rolls.

EDGAR V. COLLINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,116,278 Hollis Nov. 3, 1914 1,253,611 Locer Jan. 15, 19181,424,060 Zeier July 25, 1922 1,610,611 Knutson Dec. 14, 1926 1,882,033Pirinoli Oct. 11, 1932 2,334,945 Mitchell et al. Nov. 23, 1943 2,366,408Jenson Jan. 2, 1945 2,414,134 Bartlett Jan. 14, 1947

